A daily Christian thought from:ACP, The Church for the American Christian who is a PatriotPro-Christ, Pro-Life, Pro-Constitution.34 Duck Pond RoadHarrison, Maine, USA040440

Pastor Rev. Robert Celeste ACP/MCAC

Mr. Steve Burzlaff, Elizebeth, Kentucky

Special Guest Pastor Rev. Jim Marstaller, Pastor of The CornerStone Gospel Church in Naples, Maine

How to find a church.

Wednesday August 17th, 2005
Over the years, I have covered any number of reasons why you as a Born Again Washed in the Blood
of the Lamb Christian, need to belong to, and be an active member of, a Good, Solid, Evangelical,
Bible Preaching, Christ centered church. But how do you find such a church?

Well, to start, you interview the Pastor. That's right, interview him. Note the word him, if you read
on the sign or walk in and find a woman pastor, simply scratch that church from your list and leave
immediately. If anyone asks why you are leaving, simply tell them the truth, that you are looking
for a Good, Solid, Evangelical, Bible Preaching, Christ centered church, not a social club. They are
already preaching what they figure God meant to say, figuring that He, God, isn't smart enough to
say what He means and mean what He says in His book the Holy Bible.

So, now let's start:

Your first question: "Pastor, tell me, what must I or anyone do to be saved?"

When he answers you, if he adds or subtracts even one condition to the below, walk away.

He should tell you that in order to be saved, you must do exactly what the Bible teaches one must
to do to be Saved. And while he may use much more Scripture, they should all support these verses
of Scripture:

...Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time
into his mother's womb, and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except
a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.6That
which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.8The wind bloweth where it listeth,
and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:
so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus answered and said unto Him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered and said
unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?11Verily, verily, I say
unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our
witness.12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell
you of heavenly things?

13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son
of man which is in heaven.14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so
must the Son of man be lifted up:15That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but
have eternal life.

16For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in Him(Jesus)should not perish, but have everlasting life.17For God sent not His Son into
the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. 18He that
believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because
he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19And this is the condemnation, that Light (Jesus) is come into the world, and men loved
darkness (satan) rather than Light, because their deeds were evil.20For every one that doeth
evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he
that doeth truth cometh to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are
wrought in God.(John 3:3-21 ACP/KJV)

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth
unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.(Romans 10:9&10
ACP/KJV)

So, in answer to your question, his short answer must be, "You must be Born Again." He should
then go on to explain what Born Again means, Scripturally and with Scripture. Bottom line, only
one man in the entire Bible heard theses words: "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with
Me in paradise" When you get some time, read Luke 23, pay attention to what that thief that heard
those words did and said before Jesus looked at him and said "Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt
thou be with me in paradise".

The second thing to ask Him is: "Pastor, how do you feel about the ordination of women and or
homosexuals?" If he has anything other than opposition to both, walk away. Don't argue with him,
don't explain, simply say, "Thank you for your time," and leave. The Bible is very clear that only
a man can pastor a church and that man can not be a homosexual.

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to
usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And
Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.(1 Timothy 2:11-14 ACP/KJV)

If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be
blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt
to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not
covetous; one that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity.
(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of
God?)

Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and
the snare of the devil.

Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy
of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first
be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.

Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and
great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3:1-13 ACP/KJV)

And why is this so important? Why is it so important for a preacher to not accept women or
homosexuals into the ranks of the clergy? Read what God, through His Apostle Paul said to Titus:

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting,
and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of
one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be
blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker,
not given to filthy lucre; but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy,
temperate; holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound
doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought
not, for filthy lucre's sake.(Titus1:5-11 ACP/KJV)

The third thing to ask him is this: "Pastor, in Genesis chapter one, God claims to have made the
earth in six, twenty four hour days, what do you think?" If he tells you that the word 'day' in
Genesis one means thousands of years or even millions of years, he is wrong. If he has said
anything other than "a day means a literal 24 hours," then at that point you must tell him that you
disagree, that you believe that God said and meant a literal twenty four hour day. Now, if he drops
it and his answers to the previous questions have been ok, then stay and continue the interview. But
if he starts an argument with you, telling you that it can't mean a literal day because science has
proven that man evolved over millions of years, then thank him for his time and leave. Go find
another church, for he is letting man's word tell him how to understand and interpret what God has
said in His book.

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2And the earth was without form,
and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the
face of the waters.

3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4And God saw the light, that it was
good: and God divided the light from the darkness.5And God called the light Day, and the
darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

6And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the
waters from the waters.7And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were
under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.8And
God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

9And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let
the dry land appear: and it was so.10And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering
together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

11And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree
yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.12And the
earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit,
whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.13And the evening and
the morning were the third day.

14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the
night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:15And let them be
for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

16And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule
the night: he made the stars also.17And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give
light upon the earth.18And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light
from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19And the evening and the morning were
the fourth day.

20 And God said,Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and
fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.21 And God created great
whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their
kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed
them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in
the earth.23And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and
creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.25And God made the beast
of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the
earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all
the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.27 So God created man
in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.28
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the
earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air,
and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.29 And God said, Behold, I have given
you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the
which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.30And to every beast of
the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein
there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

31And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening
and the morning were the sixth day.(Genesis 1:1-31 ACP/KJV)

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work,
thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor
thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the
sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the
sabbath day, and hallowed it.(Exodus 20:8-11 ACP/KJV)

The fourth thing you want to ask him, is this: "Pastor, how do you feel about this statement, 'the
public school system in the United States has become so anti-Christian, that the time has come for
Christians to either home-school their children or put them in a Christian school, but not in a public
school.'" If he disagrees, but has answered the first three questions right, then simply tell him that
you disagree, but you realize that God has entrusted children to their parents and that each parent
must take responsibility for doing what is right for his or her children. But if he answered number
three, about the meaning of day in Genesis one wrong, and this one wrong, it is time for you to
politely thank him for his time and leave. I would not have a home church where the Pastor was not
home schooling.I will not have a guest pastor or writer on ACP that does not home school. How
can one preach on family values if he cares so little about his own children that he sends them into
the Christ denying, homosexual applauding public school system?

Fifth question: "Pastor, do you believe in the Trinity? I mean, do you believe that God the Father,
God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are all One and equal parts of the God Head?"

If he answers "Yes" unequivocally, stay! But, if he says "No" or even "yes, with a few and/or, or
buts, you're out of there! Don't ask him to explain the Trinity to you, a "Yes!" answer is all you are
looking for and requiring.

The sixth question: "Pastor, do you believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, was crucified, died and
was raised from the dead?"

If he answers "Yes" unequivocally, stay! But, if he says "No" or even "yes, with a few and/or, or
buts, you're out of there!

And finally, this seventh question: "Pastor the Bible teaches us: 'All scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction
in righteousness:, no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost.' Pastor, do you personally believe and teach that every word in the
Bible, from the 'In the beginning of Genesis 1:1 to the 'Amen' of Revelation 22:21 to be the word
of God?"

Anything other than a "Yes!" should cause you to politely get up, thank him for his time and leave.

So, if you got the right answers to the questions above, you have found yourself a home church, a
good Solid, Christ centered, evangelical home church. Praise GOD!!! If not, well just keep
looking, there is one out there but you may have to drive a bit to get to it, Cec and I drive about a
half hour each way to get to Cornerstone Gospel church in Naples. Before that we drove 45 minutes
each way to get to Warren Feustal's church in Lovell.

And while there are many more questions, these seven are a real good start. Don't expect your Pastor
to be perfect, he works for Jesus, he is not perfect. And never forget this, trust no man 100%. Test
every sermon against the very Word of God, your Bible. The Pastor's job is to preach. His
responsibility is to bring Scripture to you each week. He is not and get that word not, he is not
responsible for your salvation, you are.

I love you guys and would never in a million years intentionally mislead you, but I am human, only
human, I make mistakes just as every other serious, God loving, God fearing pastor and you do. As
you walk into church Sunday, look and see how many people are carrying their Bibles. As you
become more comfortable in your new church, offer to help. Be an active part of your new church
family.

And for those of you going to phony churches, stop trying to change it from within, go find a real
solid evangelical Christ centered church.

Are you tired of the Christ denying news in maine? www.christian-news-in-maine.com You can make this the best paper in Maine, but it only happens with your help and effort.

May the Lord understand the
importance of Mac, Cecily, Steve, and Rev. Jim Marstaller to this ministry. Lord I need them both healthy and able to continue to hold up their ends. Lord this cancer of Mac's is starting to get in the way, this ministry needs him
whole, just a thought Lord, is all it will take, just a thought on Your part.

There is a young man, a veteran who suffers from some kind of chemical weapon exposure, in a
Veterans hospital in Colorado, he is young, and he is Saved, yet his wife just abandoned him. Please
pray for him, Lord, help him and deal with her and those who hurt him, we ask this of the Father in
Your name Lord Jesus, amen.

The Lord our God, Christ Jesus, be with and bless you all, amen.

The difference between a true preacher and a false preacher comes down to this. The true preacher
uses God's word to convict of sin, the false preacher twist God's word to justify sin. The Lord our
God, Christ Jesus be with you always, amen.

The Lord our God, Christ Jesus, be with you all and please keep your pastor and me in your prayers.
Amen. My prayer daily is "Lord please bless those tenfold who bless me."

Pray for my friend Mac, pray for Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Michael Savage. While the Lord does not need the platforms and audiences that Rush, Sean and Michael have, they, Rush, Sean and Michael and their audiences need the Lord.

Pray for the President, pray for Attorney General John Ashcroft, pray for me, pray for all those who
open their mouths or take pen in hand in an effort to sway public opinion.

The Lord God of the Universe, Messiah Y'shua be with you all, amen.

It is better to be a horse fly in the stables of the Lord Jesus than the CEO of hell.

All Scripture quoted, in both sermons and daily thoughts, except when done by a guest, is from the ACP/authorized 1611 King James Version. The words in red are those quotes of God the Son, the Lord Jesus and the words in purple are those qoutes spoken directly by God the Father and the words in this sickly greenish color are of satan. But all of the Bible is spoken by God and should be viewed as God's handbook for us to run our lives by 2 Timothy 3:16.